The Upstairs Concierge at Goodman Theatre

Chicago Tribune - Not Recommended

"...Sanchez allows for oodles of physical comedy (and I mean long bits of business) but, alas, very little of it actually is funny (see, above, the lack of any rules to break). What she does not do is tell a clear story, nor insist on performances that focus on truth. Had this been directed without so much of that indulgence, with more attention to those pesky details, then surely more of Diaz's satirical intent would emerge. Until then, the Hotelman Arms is best avoided."

Chicago Sun Times - Not Recommended

"...Watching Diaz’s “The Upstairs Concierge,” which received its world premiere Monday on the stage of the Goodman’s Owen Theatre (and was “in development” by the theater over several years), it was difficult to believe this was the work of the same playwright. This would-be farce — a lame attempt at satirizing the cult of celebrity, and those who cater to that cult’s whims — is an unmitigated mess salvaged (just barely) by the physical fleetness of its cast."

Chicago Reader - Somewhat Recommended

"...Unlike playwright David Adjmi's imaginatively modernized Marie Antoinette (currently running at Steppenwolf), The Upstairs Concierge seems five years behind when it comes to capturing anything relevant about celebrity culture. Diaz had great success with his 2009 work The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, which was nominated for a Pulitzer, and just last week he was named a Guggenheim fellow, but his "'brities," as they're termed here, lack punch and feel lazily written. Even the central character, BB, a parody of celebrity aficionado Perez Hilton, is stuck with generic dialogue, as if Diaz couldn't bear to dip so much as a toe into the glorious font of celebrity sewage that is Hilton's website."

Gapers Block - Somewhat Recommended

"...The opening night audience found a number of lines and pratfalls to laugh at, so some prospective audience members may find this 80-minute comedy just the ticket for chasing the gloom away or topping off a harried workday. I thought it was one lost night of my life."

Time Out Chicago - Recommended

"...It’s possible some viewers will trip up on reconciling this kind of goofy humor with contemporary trappings and a relatively realistic Loop setting, but there’s nothing loopier here than in Feydeau or Fo; leave your disbelief at check-in and enjoy committed comic performances by the likes of John Stokvis and Gabriel Ruiz, as the hotel’s bumbling, horny bellboys, or Theo Allyn as a deliciously weird Yankees scout. (The casually diverse casting in the Goodman’s production is worth appreciating; to have actors in a range of ethnicities filling roles that aren’t defined by ethnicity, in a non-period piece, shouldn't be noteworthy but is.)"

Stage and Cinema - Not Recommended

"...Newsome courts embarrassing excess as the trouble-shooting, damage-controlling title character, busy putting out false fires right and left. Sadly, even if Goodman's messy one-act utterly fails as farce, it might have worked as a satire of our soul-shrinking obsession with the care and feeding of notoriety. But Diaz would rather caricature than criticize, aping Moliere while missing any meaning. Well, at least we didn't meet the downstairs concierge..."

ChicagoCritic - Not Recommended

"...The play is a pallid imitation of What the Butler Saw, and oddly enough, not even as raunchy. Either the creative team couldn’t replicate what makes farces successful, or totally misjudged the differences between the Goodman and Second City, where Newsome has done most of her stage work. While it is possible a few people will find this play funny, most will not, and no intermission means you’re stuck. The Goodman always has great production values, and does a wonderful job of mounting older shows. But The Upstairs Concierge is the latest evidence that something is amiss in their development process."

Chicago Stage and Screen - Somewhat Recommended

"...This isn't to say that The Upstairs Concierge is no fun at all. Several bits of action, like the aforementioned pantomime, are actually quite funny, and everyone involved commits fully to the madness. The actors put forth a tremendous amount of energy, jumping and running all over the very Noises Off-esque set, designed by Todd Rosenthal. The set, while handsomely appointed and expertly designed, did not have the feel that one would associate with a sleek, contemporary hotel on the Mag Mile. Other technical elements such as sound, lights, costumes, and props, took a backseat in comparison to the manic stage business. While each performer got an opportunity to shine individually, they didn't seem to share the spotlight with each other in those moments, which is a cardinal rule of the improvisation that birthed this show."

Around The Town Chicago - Recommended

"...What we have is typical farce material, mistaken identities and loyalties, doors closing on people, elevators appearing out of nowhere, baseball logos showing up in unusual places, lots of slapstick, lots of confusion and a great deal of people taking off their clothing and putting on some luxurious robes. Oh, yes, there are lots of laughs, but not as much as a Ken Ludwig show like “lend Me A Tenor” which in my opinion sets the tone for modern day farce. Back in the Shady lane Playhouse days, shows like “Up In Mabel’s Room”, Getting Gertie’s Garter” and “Critics Choice” were shows that brought Dale Benson to his glory. This production needs a little work, but is enjoyable to watch. Perhaps as these actors do more performances, the timing will become more split second- we can hope! A tip of the hat to Rachel Healy’s costumes, Mikhail Fiksel’s sound and Marcus Doshi for his lighting effects."

Chicago Theatre Review - Somewhat Recommended

"...Kristoffer Diaz probably has a good farce somewhere inside of him, but this play isn’t it. He does offer a few moments of authentic humor, and an abundance of fast-paced frenzy, but the story never lands and there aren’t many laughs. With its 80-minute length, there’s not much time for much exposition. The audience really needs to get to know these characters and to understand their situation before they can accept the farcical events that follow. As it is now, everything is jammed into the first few moments of this one-act followed by a no-holds-barred race to the finish that never really pays off. This play just isn’t ready yet for primetime audiences."

Splash Magazine - Somewhat Recommended

"...“The Upstairs Concierge” is a new show and thus it’s still a work in progress. Most of the problems can be fixed. The cast is exuding some fantastic energy (and astounding fitness I might add). The running length of 70 minutes is perfect, and unheard of for a new work. Overall, the show did make me smile and I never once felt bored…. But I also never laughed, nor did the majority of audience members for the entire show. This is a very troubling problem for any comedy, particularly a farce, and it’s a going to require some major cleaning in terms of writing and especially directing to get this farce up to where it should be."